Carnival Liberty 8/1/05 - 8/13/05 Review

[BillnBobbi]

Thanks. I think I would prefer to take the train and do it on my own. Do you know if the train is easily accessible from the port?

 

The train is not "easily" accessible from the port. If you haven't been there before, and are hell bent on being independent (rather than using the convenience of the ship sponsored excursions for whatever reason) then I suggest you find out EXACTLY how to get there and have a schedule handy.

 

If some people think that the LIRR dosen't always keep to schedule then you are NOT going to like the way the trains run in Italy. The Italians used to say that the one good thing about Mussolini was that "he made the trains run on time". Then they killed the sob and hung him upside down. Then the trains went back to their usual "schedules". :-)

 

A lot of people that did independent tours from Livorno to Florence hired minivans or taxis to get there.

 

The people we were dining with each evening decided to do this. Unfortunately, the company they hired with was obviously having a staff problem that day. They were standing on the pier for a while and their ride never showed. They called on cell phone to the company and were told that whomever they sent had picked up someone else USING THEIR NAME (this was a complete fabrication). Then the dispatcher relented and sent someone else who they obviously begged to go and get them. He showed up in an unmarked, late model rent a wreck. They were already behind schedule and got in. When he first took them to Pisa he wasted their time driving into the garage WITH THEM instead of letting them off and picking them up.

They called the dispatcher again and finally things were straightened out.

According to them everything was fine after that, and they headed for Florence. They didn't have much time in Florence, didn't see many of the Renaissance treasures, but that was ok as she was more interested in shopping and had fun at the local flea market.

 

This kind of anecdote is one of the reasons we NEVER go independent to somewhere we've never been unless the access is very easy (meaning if all else fails you can walk back to the ship), as it was in Dubrovnik, Venice, Barcelona and Cannes where we went out on our own.

 

Bill

[BillnBobbi]

I am leaving on the 8/25 sailing of the Liberty. The reviews have been amazing though it is making me second guess some of my excursions.

 

I am travelling with 2 teenage boys:D

 

So far I have booked (privately)

 

Naples--full day tour to do as we please (any must sees?)

 

[ BE SURE TO SEE THE PICKPOCKET CONVENTION :-) ]

 

Venice--3 hr private tour 2nd morning in port. Any suggestions for the afternoon we arrive and for the balance of the 2nd day. We will certainly see the Jewish Quarter and Murano. Do you suggest that we get the 24hr Vaparetto pass as well? So you remember the cost?

 

[ IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE SYNAGOGUES IN THE JEWISH QUARTER, GO TO THE MUSEUM WHERE YOU MUST SIGN UP FOR THE TOUR. YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO GO INTO THE SYNAGOGUES ON YOUR OWN. ALSO, IF YOU ARE DOING THIS THEN GO THERE AS THE FIRST STOP WHEN THE SHIP GETS TO PORT (SEE MY REVIEW) AS IT IS FRIDAY MIDDAY. FOR OBVIOUS REASONS THE SYNAGOGUE TOURS STOP AROUND 5PM (CHECK TIMES) FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

THE SYNAGOGUES YOU WILL SEE ARE NOT ACTIVE ONES (EXCEPT ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS). IF YOU WANT TO WORSHIP ON SHABBAT, THE LOCAL CHABADNIKS (WHO HAVE A STOREFRONT IN THE GHETTO) WILL BE HAPPY TO ASSIST YOU. ]

MURANO, TAKES ABOUT A HALF DAY, ESP. IF YOU WANT TO GO INTO SOME OF THE GLASS STORES AND ADJOINING FACTORIES.]

 

Messina--full day Taormina and Etna

 

[ WE ENJOYED THAT ]

 

Florence--full day Florence and Pisa

 

[ WE SKIPPED PISA AND BARELY HAD ENOUGH TIME TO SEE THE "ESSENTIALS" IN FLORENCE - CARNIVAL NEEDS TO ADJUST THEIR SCHEDULING OF THE PORTS. SEE MY REVIEW ]

 

Cannes--my big question. Right now I have a full day of aggressive touring to include all that is beautiful and cultural. I want to be sure my boys experience more than beach and shopping thought I don't want to overdose them on mind-expanding activities either. Help me here please!

 

[ THEY'LL BE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL TO YOU IF YOU LET THEM HANG OUT ALL DAY ON THE BEACH. THIS IS WHAT WE DID. THE BEACH WAS WONDERFUL, THE MEDITERRANEAN WAS DELICIOUS, AND THIS IS THE MOST CONVENIENT STOP AT WHICH YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SWIM AT A BEACH - THERE IS A PUBLIC BEACH ADJACENT TO WHERE THE TENDERS DOCK. THE LAST THREE DAYS ARE A PUSH, BARCELONA TO CANNES TO FLORENCE - SOUNDS LIKE A EUROPEAN DOUBLE PLAY - WITHOUT A FINAL DAY AT SEA TO CHILL OUT BEFORE GOING HOME.

CONSIDERING THEY ARE TEEN AGE BOYS WITH RAGING HORMONES, THEY WILL REALLY REALLY BE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL TO YOU IF YOU LET THEM HANG OUT ALL DAY ON THE BEACH IN CANNES. THEY'LL BE GOING INTO THE WATER FREQUENTLY TO AHEM COOL DOWN. :-) ]

 

So far I have not booked anything for Dubrovnik or Barcelona. Those sound like you can do them on your own. Does Barcelona lend itself to a beach day?

 

[ YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY DO BOTH OF THESE PORTS ON YOUR OWN. IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEM GETTING CULTURE THEN THERE IS WAY MORE IN BARCELONA { Picasso, Gaudi, Dali, Gothic Quarter, L'Eixample, Sagrada Familia eg.} THAN AT THE CANNES STOP. I'D SUGGEST DOING THE BEACH IN CANNES. IT'S THE SAME EXACT MED. ]

 

Are there any ports that you can just take it easy and not rush around? I always love the ship when most people 'clear out' though I would hate to miss anything!

 

[ THE OLD CITY IN DUBROVNIK TAKES ABOUT 3-4HRS AND THEN IT IS A SHORT HOP BACK TO THE SHIP ]

 

No one has really mentioned anything about shopping. Is there anything worth shopping or looking for? Are there any great values anywhere?

 

[ CRYSTAL GLASS IN MURANO, BIKINI TOPS IN CANNES - THEY'RE ALL IN THE REMAINDERS BIN :-) ]

 

Any input would be helpful. I have about 24hrs to finalize my plans.

 

Lastly, I have thoroughly enjoyed your installments.

 

 

THANK YOU, GLAD YOU ENJOYED THEM.

 

bNb

[2boyzandamom]

Thank you soooo much.

 

 

You are amazing and totally crack me up!!! Why weren't you on my trip????

 

I think I will take your advice about Cannes and let those hormones air out. I keep referring to this trip as the 'Tour of Testosterone'. what was I thinking:p ?

 

Thanks for the shopping tips...those bikini tops will be quite the prize the boys. I love glass as well so that'll be my trophy!!!

 

Wish me luck and may the force be with me.

[BillnBobbi]

Thank you soooo much.

 

 

You are amazing and totally crack me up!!! Why weren't you on my trip????

 

[ YOU DIDN'T TELL ME YOU WERE GOING. ]

 

I think I will take your advice about Cannes and let those hormones air out. I keep referring to this trip as the 'Tour of Testosterone'. what was I thinking:p ?

 

Thanks for the shopping tips...those bikini tops will be quite the prize the boys. I love glass as well so that'll be my trophy!!!

 

Wish me luck and may the force be with me.

 

[ NOW I KNOW WHY I DIDN'T WAIT FOR YOU.]

 

 

HAVE A GREAT TIME.

 

bNB

[belgiancruiser]

Hello Bill

thank you for your very interesting and entertaining review of your European adventures on the "Carnival Liberty".

 

Your pictures of the ship were also very interesting, but, or is this only mine impression ?, the ships' interiors look rather dark and gloomy? with lots of bordeaux and other dark colors, also in the atrium and dining room, with heavy patterned carpets, while on the outside, the tendering in Cannes pictures, the ship looks very bright and cheerful.

 

I had the same impression of Florence the first time I came there : the city itself is not "pretty", but rather worn and used. The charm comes gradually, and is often found if you enter the buildings, and the history. In summer, with the heat (my family fled this summer to the alps, because the heat was too strong even for florentines) and the tourists, there is a heavy pressure on the city.

 

Last year, with the "Oceanic", we also did the "Florence on your own" tour, with a tourbus provided by the ship, as we didn't risk some mishap in trafic or on the railways. The bus offloaded us near the Railway Station, The time was rather short, luckily a family member lives there so we had a nice walk, but rather superficial of course. To really enjoy Florence you need some more days, or, if one day, at least not on such a tight time budget.

 

My family showed me something interesting, very useful for people on a short time in Florence : there is a rather new (at least in 2004) 'Rinascemente' Department Store between the Duomo and the Palazzo Vecchia near the Piazza della Republica and Via Tuornoboni: it has a rooftop café terrace, with a breathtaking view of the old city around you. It is only some rolling stairs away, and very interesting.

 

The ship didn't use its own tenders in Cannes ?

 

I agree with your comments on Cannes. If you need some culture, Barcelona is better. If the ship had gone to Nice, it would perhaps been something different. There are some interesting museums of Modern Art on the Azure Coast, but this coast is mainly "resort" and "hedonistic". I think you can see also "beautiful people" in Cannes as in Monaco; The Provence is of course something different, but it is also more a total region, with the more interesting parts rather far from the coast. What did you mean by excursions to St.Moritz ?

There is something however totally contrasting with the hedonistic and glitzy croisette, and that are the Iles des Lérins, a short boat trip away, (I think the boats start from the place where your tender arrived????)a small archipel of islands, perhaps you did see them from the ship, on which there is a famous, old, fortress-like Monastery.

 

Did you like Europe ?

 

Best,

 

Johan

[kruise66]

Hi. I am going on the Liberty later this year, and have a few questions.

 

First, are there refrigerators in every cabin? We have an outside cabin, category 6A.

 

I read somewhere that the giant TV screen on deck plays music videos and "basically took over the role of a band." Do they not have live bands on deck?

 

Also about music, the deck plans show band areas in the dining rooms. Is there live music with dinner?

 

And what is this I've seen about a "sunken" casino?

 

Thanks!

[bobbi3]

Bobbi ~

 

We are taking the train from Livorno to Florence, then stopping in Pisa and back to Livorno. Taxi from the port to the train station is about 15E and r.t. train is about 13E per person. For 2 people is about 56E = approx. $69.00

 

Mary

 

 

Thanks Emelar!

[Hoosiercruiser69]

Hi. I am going on the Liberty later this year, and have a few questions.

 

First, are there refrigerators in every cabin? We have an outside cabin, category 6A.

 

I read somewhere that the giant TV screen on deck plays music videos and "basically took over the role of a band." Do they not have live bands on deck?

 

Also about music, the deck plans show band areas in the dining rooms. Is there live music with dinner?

 

And what is this I've seen about a "sunken" casino?

 

Thanks!

I am concerned about the music on board too. I've only sailed in the Carribean and Mexican Riviera. I have fears of a Baroque Trio with cellos and violins.

 

Sounds like the big screen reffered to as "Big Brother" is a new concept for Carnival.

[BillnBobbi]

Hi. I am going on the Liberty later this year, and have a few questions.

 

First, are there refrigerators in every cabin? We have an outside cabin, category 6A.

 

[ YES BUT YOU HAVE TO GET THE STEWARD TO OPEN IT WITH HIS KEY. THEN YOU'LL SEE THAT IT IS FILLED WITH ALL SORTS OF THINGS YOU REALLY DON'T NEED, LIKE "FOOD" IN CASE YOU SHOULD GET HUNGRY???]

 

I read somewhere that the giant TV screen on deck plays music videos and "basically took over the role of a band." Do they not have live bands on deck?

 

[ THE GIANT TV SCREEN, WHICH I HAVE NAMED "BIG BROTHER" TAKES OVER THE ENTIRE CENTER OF THE LIDO DECK. YOU CAN'T GET AWAY FROM THE DAMNED THING. IT PLAYS MUSIC VIDEOS WHEN IT HAS NOTHING BETTER TO DO. SOMETIMES THERE IS A DUET PLAYING ON DECK, BUT THEY WEREN'T VERY GOOD. HE WAS ON THE KEYBOARDS WHILE SHE WAS ATTEMPTING TO SING.

I WOULD URGE EVERYONE WHO DETESTS THIS MONSTROSITY TO VOICE THEIR STRONG DISAPPROVAL TO CARNIVAL THE WAY THAT WE DID. ]

 

Also about music, the deck plans show band areas in the dining rooms. Is there live music with dinner?

 

[ ONLY IF YOU CONSIDER THE WAIT STAFF JUMPING UP AND DOWN AND SINGING HOT HOT HOT LIVE MUSIC WITH DINNER. WE CONSIDERED IT AT BEST AN UNWELCOME IMPOSITION ON OUR NICE MEAL, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT CAME DURING DESSERT. ]

 

And what is this I've seen about a "sunken" casino?

 

[ THE CASINO WAS ALL ON ONE LEVEL, LEVEL 5. IT WAS NOT MULTITIERED.]

 

Thanks!

 

YOUR WELCOME

 

BILL

[rpsinnj]

everyone has their option on matters and the same with john heald, but being a true friend of john heald he is a great person and a personal attacks about his weight is not needed in a cruise review, thank god we still have john around in the cruise world, he is the best and that is why he is aboard the liberty, carnival knew who to put on there first ship in europe, you couldnt have anyone better. John give more then 100 per cent in anything he does, he been working so hard almost 17 hours a day aboard the liberty, making sure everything goes right and supplying his humor at night we have been in touch with him every since he came onto the ship and i cant wait to see him on thursday 8/27.

[BillnBobbi]

Hello Bill

thank you for your very interesting and entertaining review of your European adventures on the "Carnival Liberty".

 

[ YOU ARE VERY WELCOME, I'M GLAD YOU ENJOYED IT. ]

 

 

Your pictures of the ship were also very interesting, but, or is this only mine impression ?, the ships' interiors look rather dark and gloomy? with lots of bordeaux and other dark colors, also in the atrium and dining room, with heavy patterned carpets, while on the outside, the tendering in Cannes pictures, the ship looks very bright and cheerful.

 

[ OH. WELL I TOOK MOST OF THOSE PICTURES AT 5:30AM, AND NOT ALL OF THE HOUSE LIGHTS WERE ON IN THE VENETIAN LOUNGE OR OTHER VENUES.

I TOOK IT AT THAT TIME BECAUSE I WAS WIDE AWAKE, THE DW WAS SOUND ASLEEP AND THE CABIN DOES NOT ALLOW FOR PACING UP AND DOWN. :-).

I ONLY HAD MY LITTLE POP UP FLASH ON MY CAMERA AS I WASN'T GOING TO BRING THE LARGER ONE, AND CERTAINLY NOT ANY SLAVES TO SET UP FOR OPTIMUM LIGHTING.

THE INTERIORS ARE ACTUALLY QUITE BRIGHT AND CHEERY. THE COLOR SCHEME IS BRIGHTER THAN IT IS ON THE CONQUEST, BUT FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN NOT AS NEON AS THE OTHER SISTER, THE GLORY.

THE SHIP WAS VERY HAPPY TO GET RID OF ALL OF THE PASSENGERS AT CANNES SO IT COULD REST. :-) ]

 

I had the same impression of Florence the first time I came there : the city itself is not "pretty", but rather worn and used.

 

[ KINDA LIKE AN OLD WHORE, HUH? MY WORD WAS "GRIMY" ]

 

 

The charm comes gradually, and is often found if you enter the buildings, and the history. In summer, with the heat (my family fled this summer to the alps, because the heat was too strong even for florentines) and the tourists, there is a heavy pressure on the city.

 

 

[ ANYONE WITH BRAINS GOT OUT OF THE OPPRESSIVE HEAT WAVE GOING THROUGHOUT EUROPE. WE HAD OUR OWN HEATWAVE IN N. AMERICA. WHEN WE RETURNED OUR FAMILY TOLD US HOW LUCKY WE WERE TO HAVE MISSED FOUR 100+ F. DAYS IN A ROW, AND TWO WEEKS IN THE 90s. Oh yeah, we missed it all right... THE ONLY RESPITE WAS BEING ON A MOVING SHIP AND CATCHING THE WONDERFUL BREEZE BEING GENERATED ON THE UPPER DECKS. ]

 

Last year, with the "Oceanic", we also did the "Florence on your own" tour, with a tourbus provided by the ship, as we didn't risk some mishap in trafic or on the railways. The bus offloaded us near the Railway Station, The time was rather short, luckily a family member lives there so we had a nice walk, but rather superficial of course. To really enjoy Florence you need some more days, or, if one day, at least not on such a tight time budget.

 

[ THE SHIP TOUR ISN'T REALLY EVEN A DAY, IT IS MORE LIKE A HALF DAY.

IN OUR SUGGESTIONS NOTE WHICH THE SHIP ENCOURAGES THE PASSENGERS FILL OUT, WE SUGGESTED A CHANGE IN THE PORTS OF CALL ALLOWING MORE TIME FOR FLORENCE. A HALF DAY WAS FINE FOR DUBROVNIK.

ALL TOUR GUIDE BOOKS ADVOCATE A BARE MINIMUM OF TWO FULL DAYS FOR FLORENCE, AND PREFERABLY THREE, JUST TO DO IT A MODICUM OF JUSTICE. ]

 

 

My family showed me something interesting, very useful for people on a short time in Florence : there is a rather new (at least in 2004) 'Rinascemente' Department Store between the Duomo and the Palazzo Vecchia near the Piazza della Republica and Via Tuornoboni: it has a rooftop café terrace, with a breathtaking view of the old city around you. It is only some rolling stairs away, and very interesting.

 

 

[ NOW YOU TELL ME. :-). THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A NICE PLACE TO STOP FOR LUNCH, INSTEAD OF THE SHORT SHRIFT WE'D RECEIVED WHERE WE DID GO. ]

 

The ship didn't use its own tenders in Cannes ?

 

[ WELL IT USED SOMEBODY'S TENDERS. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY BELONGED TO THE SHIP OR IF THEY WERE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS FROM THE CANNES PORT, BUT THEY WERE VERY EFFICIENT. THEY KEPT COMING AND GOING ALL DAY LONG. I THINK THERE WERE ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE OF THEM CONSTANTLY IN USE. IT TOOK ABOUT 15 MINUTES FROM THE SHIP TO THE PORT. ]

 

I agree with your comments on Cannes. If you need some culture, Barcelona is better.

 

[ I LOVE CULTURE, BUT I ALSO LOVED THE BEACH AT CANNES. I THINK WE TOOK IN THE BEST ASPECTS OF BOTH CITIES. BARCELONA IS DEFINITELY WORTH MORE TIME, AND WE DO INTEND TO GO BACK THERE. WE HAVE EXCELLENT BEACHES ON LI. SOME OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD. MORE AND MORE OF THEM ARE GOING "EUROPEAN" FOR THE WOMEN AS WELL, WHICH MIGHT MEAN THAT WE ARE FINALLY BECOMING MORE MATURE AS A SOCIETY OVER HERE AS WELL. ]

 

 

If the ship had gone to Nice, it would perhaps been something different. There are some interesting museums of Modern Art on the Azure Coast, but this coast is mainly "resort" and "hedonistic".

 

[ DON'T GET ME WRONG, I THINK THERE IS A PLACE FOR "RESORT" IN A VACATION, AND DEFINITELY FOR HEDONISM. IT IS JUST THAT IN A CRUISE OF THIS NATURE, WHERE THE PORTS OF CALL ALL SEEMED TO OFFER A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT GLIMPSE OF EUROPEAN CULTURE, THAT I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED TO SKIP CANNES AND SPEND AN EXTRA DAY IN FLORENCE.

WHEN WE SAIL THE CARIBBEAN, WE OFTEN DON'T EVEN BOTHER TO GET OFF OF THE SHIP, AND IF WE DO GO SOMEWHERE, IT IS NEVER FOR ANYTHING REMOTELY INTELLECTUALLY REWARDING. SOMETIMES IT IS GOOD TO TURN YOUR BRAIN OFF, AND OTHER TIMES IT IS GOOD TO EXERCISE IT. ]

 

 

 

I think you can see also "beautiful people" in Cannes as in Monaco; The Provence is of course something different, but it is also more a total region, with the more interesting parts rather far from the coast. What did you mean by excursions to St.Moritz ?

 

 

[ I DON'T KNOW, I HEARD SOME FOLKS WENT THERE. ]

 

 

There is something however totally contrasting with the hedonistic and glitzy croisette, and that are the Iles des Lérins, a short boat trip away, (I think the boats start from the place where your tender arrived????)a small archipel of islands, perhaps you did see them from the ship, on which there is a famous, old, fortress-like Monastery.

 

[ YES THEY WERE EASILY VIEWED FROM THE SHIP AND FROM THE TENDERS, BUT THERE WERE NO TOURS OFFERED THERE. I READ SOMEWHERE THAT THE MONKS THEMSELVES OFFER TOURS, BUT WE WEREN'T REALLY INTERESTED. ]

 

 

Did you like Europe ?

 

[ OH SURE, WE CAN'T WAIT TO GO BACK. ONCE WE ARE COMPLETELY RETIRED WE'LL TAKE THE GRAND TOUR. IN THE FUTURE WE PLAN TO DO THE UK, IRELAND, THE BENELUX, IBERIA, FRANCE, SWITZERLAND, ITALY, SCANDINAVIA, THE BALTIC... DID I LEAVE ANYONE OUT? ]

 

HAVE YOU BEEN TO OUR SIDE OF THE LAKE?]

-+

 

Johan

 

 

BEST REGARDS,

 

BILL (N BOBBI)

[BillnBobbi]

I am concerned about the music on board too. I've only sailed in the Carribean and Mexican Riviera. I have fears of a Baroque Trio with cellos and violins.

 

Sounds like the big screen reffered to as "Big Brother" is a new concept for Carnival.

 

 

Ok, my older guy is a Hoosier98. Frankly, A baroque trio with cellos and violins would have been very nice at breakfast on the lido deck, instead of seeing the attack of the twelve foot talking heads reading me the news on CNN and BBCworld. That was why we avoided the deck like the plague.

 

I think there is a classical trio playing in the afternoons (they do tea ) in the Cabinet room where nice petit fours and little bitty sandwiches are served with tea and other things. We never had a chance for it, but did indulge in that on The Conquest (where the Cabinet is called Alfred's).

 

I'm conducting a search through some intelligence connections I have to find out who the genius at marketing for Carnival is that came up with the concept for that imposition on reality. Then I'm going to start some black ops against the little fellow. Or at least do some voodoo and wish the pox upon him. :-) (or her, but this had to be a guy. It has all the makings of a boy toy. )

 

" A pox upon the little fellow,

Creep and fink with

Stripe of yellow." - Mad magazine, circa 1958 -

 

 

BnB

[BillnBobbi]

everyone has their option on matters and the same with john heald, but being a true friend of john heald he is a great person and a personal attacks about his weight is not needed in a cruise review, thank god we still have john around in the cruise world, he is the best and that is why he is aboard the liberty, carnival knew who to put on there first ship in europe, you couldnt have anyone better. John give more then 100 per cent in anything he does, he been working so hard almost 17 hours a day aboard the liberty, making sure everything goes right and supplying his humor at night we have been in touch with him every since he came onto the ship and i cant wait to see him on thursday 8/27.

 

You know what? You're right. It would be even more correct if you could use some punctuation so that we might be able to more easily decipher what it is you are trying to say.

 

We really enjoyed John Heald. As for personal attacks about his weight, he is constantly making fun of his enormous girth. Frankly, if he dosen't do something serious about it, he is not long for this world, and the world will be diminished without him. He brings smiles and a sense of fun to thousands of folks each week, and that is an immeasurable contribution. He's a great entertainer.

 

You are also correct when you state that the reason Carnival placed him on the maiden cruise schedule of The Liberty is because he is considered the best CD that they have.

 

Many people also do not understand that the job of the CD is not just to be around to goof on folks and be a "tummler" all day long. The job is much more complex than that. As CD he is the one who is responsible ultimately for ALL of the entertainment that goes on aboard the ship.

 

The Captain is in charge of making sure the ship functions properly and gets it where it is supposed to go. The Captain is of course, the supreme boss of the entire ship.

The Hotel Director is in charge of maintenance of the staffing and caring for the cabins, and for all of the staffing for the various restaurants, stocking them etc.

The CD is in charge of all entertainment and keeping the passengers happy .

 

None of those jobs are 9 to 5.

 

Bill

[moabian49]

i rest my case. when you have true friends and fans of john heald like you it can mean only one thing. i am wrong and you are not. i

apologize and will like john heald from now on. i will never bash mr. heald again.

as for you misses doctor's wif, the guy was dead.ok?i was there,you were not. was he alive on that ship when they whisked him below?i know he wasn't.you don't. was he alive the next day? you all know he wasn't. was john heald.....oh never mind. you're right-enuff said.

 

vaporetta pass for 24 hrs well worth 28 hr. stay in venice.10.50 euro for pass. individual one way ride 5 euros.

cannes beach best bet for beach day. we walked about 1 mile west from marina and encountered no carnival beach towels altho a few employees we did recognize(even without tops). beach and water very clean. beach day here good thing before all day florence.

had no problem with boblimosine for transpo to florence. took side roads around hiway construction-we got in at 9:45. heard tourbuses didn't get into florence till 11am.

[moabian49]

previous comments meant for rps in joisey(hey,you fromjoisey?i'm from joisey!) and misses doctor wif. rest of comments for those going on cruise.

[BillnBobbi]

i rest my case. when you have true friends and fans of john heald like you it can mean only one thing. i am wrong and you are not. i

apologize and will like john heald from now on. i will never bash mr. heald again.

as for you misses doctor's wif, the guy was dead.ok?i was there,you were not. was he alive on that ship when they whisked him below?i know he wasn't.you don't. was he alive the next day? you all know he wasn't. was john heald.....oh never mind. you're right-enuff said.

 

vaporetta pass for 24 hrs well worth 28 hr. stay in venice.10.50 euro for pass. individual one way ride 5 euros.

cannes beach best bet for beach day. we walked about 1 mile west from marina and encountered no carnival beach towels altho a few employees we did recognize(even without tops). beach and water very clean. beach day here good thing before all day florence.

had no problem with boblimosine for transpo to florence. took side roads around hiway construction-we got in at 9:45. heard tourbuses didn't get into florence till 11am.

 

 

We had our Carnival Beach Towels. We actually went back to the ship to get them, and put on bathing suits. Didn't you see us? I was topless.

Bobbi is very fair skinned (she's almost transparent - remember The Visible Woman. You could make her pregnant just by changing a few organs.) so she was prancing around in a one piece like a good grandma.

 

B

[azrose]

Hi everyone!! I really don't know if i can add much to all previous reviews.....but i will add my 2 cents.....I agree with doing Dubrovnik, Venice and Barcelona on your own.....(think we walked ALL of Barcelona).....and yes, it was a bit of a walk in Venice to the water busses, but not unreasonable.....shuttle busses were great in the other two ports.....i loved all of our ports.....although the Florence/Pisa thing was totally unorganized!!! We lost precious time for Florence sitting on the tour busses by the ship for about an hour waiting.....it started off badly and the lunch could have been left out too!! But Pisa was more amazing than i would have thought.....did anyone else get to experience the marvelous accoustics in the baptisery?? How amazing!!! We did sooooo much it is very hard to say what our favorite was.....i can say, not to expect to really explore in detail every port....it is more of a "taste"....time just doesn't allow it....but the "tastes" were great and i would never trade this trip and it's memories for the world....and made even better by the fact i got to share it with my 16 year old son!!

 

I can't say anything about the dining room / food.....we just showed up for the 2 formal nights (a deal i made with my son).....but we found Emile's wonderful.....plus it was just one deck above us so i never got lost looking for it!! heee heee......

 

Yes, John could sometimes be "corny"....but all in all, entertaining.....i was glad to hear the announcement about the shuttle landing.....and i did like the big screen tv.....(baby boomer that i am).....and the absolute best part of the whole trip was cruising into Venice with Pavarotti blasting from the big screen!!!!! I completely loved that experience!!!

[SUDABAY]

Bill & Bobbie - thanks for a great pre-cruise briefing. We sail 9-30-05.

I've had 5 previous Med Cruises, however they were all on ships that did not have bars, casinos and were painted haze gray.

Have also lived on Malta, in Spain and in Naples.

Wife and I have been taking cruises for a while (this will be #29) so that she can see the places that I have been. My first time in Naples was in 1950.

You have done an outstanding job in "painting the towns" through the eyes of a very knowledgeable and articulate observer.

Sir, we are in your debt.

Thank you!

[BillnBobbi]

Bill & Bobbie - thanks for a great pre-cruise briefing. We sail 9-30-05.

I've had 5 previous Med Cruises, however they were all on ships that did not have bars, casinos and were painted haze gray.

Have also lived on Malta, in Spain and in Naples.

Wife and I have been taking cruises for a while (this will be #29) so that she can see the places that I have been. My first time in Naples was in 1950.

You have done an outstanding job in "painting the towns" through the eyes of a very knowledgeable and articulate observer.

Sir, we are in your debt.

Thank you!

 

Hi Sudabay,

 

Those gray ships are very safe, and you make lots of new friends for life on them. Of course, the first time you entered a "stateroom" on a cruise ship, you must have thought you were in a palace. :-)

 

What ships were you on? Any flattops?

 

I had a few friends on another Liberty. The USS Liberty. After it had been attacked and nearly sunk, Capt. McGonagle, although wounded was able to maneuver it, listing all the way, to Malta. We were invited to attend his funeral at Arlington a few years ago. I never saw so many grown men cry at the same time. He had saved all of their lives.

 

I'm glad that you enjoyed my efforts to tell folks what the journey was like.

 

Bravo Zulu

 

Bill

[jedg22]

B&B..

 

Your reviews have been amazing...we are hoping to take this trip next May with 2 couples...my 22 year old daughter wants to go also and I was just wondering if you noticed any 20 something singles on the trip (preferable "hot" guys !).

 

I am also interested in the websites for any private touring companies that we could book for the ports.

 

Again, thanks, Bill, for great insight into this trip.

 

Jeanne

[belgiancruiser]

BEST REGARDS,

 

BILL (N BOBBI)

 

Hello

thanks for your reply.

 

I have been to the US before, though not on a cruise, a very classical East Coast voyage : Washington/New York/Cape Cod/Boston.

 

It was very very interesting, and pleasant.

 

Johan

[BillnBobbi]

B&B..

 

Your reviews have been amazing...we are hoping to take this trip next May with 2 couples...my 22 year old daughter wants to go also and I was just wondering if you noticed any 20 something singles on the trip (preferable "hot" guys !).

 

I am also interested in the websites for any private touring companies that we could book for the ports.

 

Again, thanks, Bill, for great insight into this trip.

 

Jeanne

 

I actually didn't have my eye out for any hot guys, but there were a lot of 20 something young women on the ship. I don't know if they were single or not.

I did notice in the evening, that the various age groups did manage to hook up with each other at different spots on the promenade deck and the lido deck.

 

Bnb

[kruise66]

Thanks! It's always good to get the real story!

[Bill2121]

BnB,

 

Thanks for sharing your adventures in the Med. and on Liberty. I have booked for next Sept. on Liberty and have skimmed your review and plan to read all the posts to get some great advice and tips. Thanks again.

[trs3eb]

You're review was great Bill! I was on the Aug. 1st cruise and after reading all your posts, was looking forward to meeting you. Unfortunately, we boarded the ship barely in time for muster, and ended up getting to the Cabinet late and only met a few people still hanging out.

 

I'll add my brief review. I went on the cruise with my husband and kids, boys age 20 & 18 and girl 15. My daughter especially liked the teen club and had a great time hanging out with her new friends. She was disappointed that many activities were during our dinner which usually started at 8:30-8:45. The boys are more introverted and kind of kept to themselves the first couple of days until a group of young adults that they were walking by invited them to join them. I thought that was great and they had new friends to hang out with for the rest of the cruise. They even went out with them into Venice on our evening there.

 

As for ports, Rome was our favorite place. We spent almost 5 days there before and after the cruise. There is so much to see and we were able to walk everywhere from our centrally located hotel. It was the Hotel Della Torre Argentina. We had a driver in Rome to and from the airport and port. He told us a lot about Rome and gave us some good tips. He even went out of his way to return my son's backpack that he left in the car. His name is Stefano from Romecabs. I highly recommend him. He can be reached at allagrande@hotmail.it . The rate he charged us was 50euro to/from airport/hotel and 120 euro to/from hotel/port. That was the total cost for 5 people, not per person.

 

In Naples we chose to do a Carinval tour of Mt. Vesuvius and Pompeii only because I couldn't figure out how to do both on our own. We stopped at a cameo factory in between, when I would have rather spent the time in Pompeii. There wasn't enough time to see very much of Pompeii, but that gives me a reason to go back.

 

In Dubrovnik, we walked to the old town, which was a good hike. Someone said 2 miles and I'd say it was at least that or more. We walked the wall and it was amazing! I really liked this town and the people were great there.

 

The night we went from Dubrovnik to Venice was very rough. The ship was really rocking. I've been on 6 other cruises in the Caribbean and have never felt such rocking on a ship before. My husband and I were having a late snack on the back deck and the water was splashing out of the pool everywhere. The pool there has a retractable ceiling cover that was closed at the time. We heard a loud crash as deck chairs from the upper deck came crashing down on the ceiling cover. Our driver in Rome said that people think the Mediterranean is a nice, mild sea, but that it can be very rough.

 

In Venice, we walked through the city and ended up at St. Mark's square. It's a great way to see a lot that you wouldn't otherwise see. We got the 1 day passes for the vaporetto and took it back to the ship. The next day we got back on the vaparetto to St. Mark's again, because it was late by the time we got there the first day and we didn't get to go inside anything. We toured the Doges Palace and St. Mark's and one of the museums there. The gelato in Venice was voted the favorite by my family and we tried it at every stop in Italy. We also saw the best street performers in Venice. There was a guy with marionette puppets that did an amazing show. Later when we were walking, we heard some beautiful music around the corner and found it to be a man playing water glasses. I couldn't believe the music I heard was coming from water glasses!

 

In Messina, we took the train to Taormina, then we had to take a bus up to the town. We saw the Greek theater and walked through the town.

 

In Barcelona, we walked up Las Ramblas and walked around a while before we took a bicycle tour through Bike Tours Barcelona. It was a great way to see the city, as it is a little too spread out to walk in one day. The tour was 3 hours (including a half hour stop at a cafe for drinks) and cost 22 euro. It was something different to do and we all really enjoyed it.

 

In Cannes we just went to the beach for the day. We didn't even walk around the city.

 

In Livorno we hired a private driver from Papillon service. The cost for the 5 of us was 480.00 euro. Gian Lucca was our driver. We started out in Florence. They had reserved tickets for us at the Accademia. He walked us past the long line of people waiting to get in and right up to the ticket booth. I paid for the tickets, 2 euro more for reservations, and we went right in. It was very nice because it wasn't crowded inside yet. After that, he gave us a book of Florence and a map and told us about some different sights we might want to see. We decided on a time to meet and off we went. When we got back to the very nice Mercedes van, we asked him to take us to a good place to eat lunch. I'm sorry I don't remember the name of the place and definitely have no idea where it was, but it was delicious! Then he drove us to a spot that overlooks the city with great views. It was getting late and he quickly got us to Pisa. We were late for our 4:00 reservation (I had made that myself on line)and he was able to get it changed to 5:00. We climbed the tower after spending time looking around and taking pictures. Oh, and my bathroom stop that cost .30 euro. We arrrived back at the ship around the same time as many of the tour buses. It was a very long and full day.

 

The ship itself was pretty nice. The individual bars were decorated nicely along with the staterooms, but in general, the decorating seemed like nothing matched. Maybe that's the latest style! I didn't care for it. The food was good, but not too many things were great. I agree with whoever it was that said the desserts weren't that great. I was also disappointed with the one big midnight buffet. It's not the midnight buffet of cruises past. I don't know how, but they ran out of laundry detergent on the entire ship on the first day at sea, which is day two of the cruise. I kept away from the busy lido deck area on port days. I enjoyed the shows that had two showings. If there was only one late one, we were unable to get a seat due to our late dinner time. The comedians were very good. I was surprised by how many portrait set ups they had. It gave you a lot of different choices in backgrounds and there usually wasn't a long line, except on the formal nights. The line did go quickly. They even had a background and clothing to do an old western photo. For the most part, I enjoyed John the CD, except the audience participation shows with people set up to be in it. You know it can't be for real.

 

All in all, it was a great cruise and a good way to get a taste of Europe. I know what I liked and what I didn't, what I still need to see and what I don't need to see again.

 

-Tina:)